Exclusions

The Department for Children, Schools and Families produces guidance for Schools and Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), regarding exclusions.

Headteachers, teachers in charge of a PRU, governing bodies, local authorities (LAs) and Independent Appeal Panels (IAPs) must by law have regard to this guidance when making decisions on exclusions and administering the exclusion procedure. This means that, whilst the guidance does not have the force of statute, there is an expectation that it will be followed unless there is good reason to depart from it.

These procedures apply to all maintained schools, including sixth forms which are part of a maintained school, and Pupil Referral Units and all pupils in them, including pupils who may be below or above compulsory school age (except for the requirements related to the arrangement of provision for pupils from the sixth day of their exclusion which applies only to pupils of compulsory school age). For these purposes 'maintained schools' includes nursery classes in maintained schools and maintained nursery schools.

They do not apply to independent schools, city technology colleges, city colleges for the technology of the arts or sixth form colleges, which have separate exclusion procedures. Academies, by virtue of their funding agreements, must also have regard to this guidance.  This means that the procedures followed by Academies should not depart significantly from those in this guidance without good reason.

You are welcome to contact David Ball, Pupil Support tel. 01642 201828 if you need any advice relating to exclusions.

Downloadable documents in this section: